Awning construction



June 3, 1952 H. M. HELT 2,598,691

AWNING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 3, 1946 /s Pia/1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 3, 1952 AWNING CONSTRUCTION Herbert M. Helt, Bellevue, Pa., assignor to. Koo].-

vent Metal Awning Corporation of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania ApplicationApril 3, 1946, Serial No; 659,349

8' Claims. (01. 20-575) 1 This: invention is an improvement in awning construction, and particularly refers to means for connecting side by side alternating upper and lower channel strips, forming the protective covering.

It is with particular reference to constructions of the kind disclosed in Houseman patent No.

. in the form of a comparatively narrow separating head member. It is adapted to interengage with the terminal flanges, and support the upper members from the lower. Each such separating head member has an extended tail piece for clinching connection with the lower member. holding themembers together, and supporting the upper directly by the lower.

In the drawings illustrating my improvement:

Fig. 1 is a typical conventional illustration in cross section of several channel members, as alternately arranged.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view illustrating my improved means for connecting the sections to each other.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view of one of the connecting members.

Fig. 4 is a similar view in perspective.

It will be understood that in metal awning or the like, utilizing channel strip members of suitable metal, as aluminum, it is desirable to pro vide for exclusion of Weather elements such as rain, snow, sleet, e.tc., and at the same time to provide for ample ventilation as to inflow and outflow of air.

The connecting means forming the subject. of this. application are therefore comparatively short, located at spatial distances for ample air circulation, and yet sufliciently close together to insure rigid and permanent connections.

The typical channels as indicated in Fig. 1 schematically, are arranged in the spaced series of lower channels I! with their upwardly extending flanges l9 and the upper series. of reversed channels IB having downwardly extending flanges 20.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2 the upwardly extending main. flanges l9 are provided with terminal inwardly bent edges forming flange terminalsv or lipsZl, and the upper channels [8. are

similarly bent backwardly forming the flange terminals or lips 22.

Myimproved connecting block A, which is. pref erably made of. extruded metal, and cut into short sections as in Fig. 4, is in the form of. a hollow head. It has an upper flat portion 23 and a lower opposite flat portion 24, spaced apart. a distance approximating the distance from the main web I! or [8, and the distance between such main web and the backwardly bent flange terminals or lip 2| and 22' respectively, so that it may interlock between the main web andthe lip.

Upper and lower portions 23 and 24 are; connected at one side by a wall 25, either inclined or at right angles to said portions. It is preferred that the wall 25 be inclined as illustrated to pro.- vide a camming action in a manner to be described. The other side of, the. block is closed by a back wall 26. extending considerably beyond the lower section 24, andv capable of being bent upon itself to form an interlock when in. posi- 25 tion by its terminal 21, as in Fig. 2.

Between the upper and lower sections 23', 24, the latter is bentupwardly asat. 28-, spaced in.- wardly beyond. the back wall 26,. and then joined to sectionlli by connecting web 28.

As thus made there is a space sufficiently wide for insertion of the block over flange 2| and bringing it into contact with the under side 30 of web 29; There is thus. provided a. firm bearing engagementwiththe upwardly extending web and flange |9-2i., of the'lower member IT.

on the other hand, the downwardly turned flange 20 of the upper channel l8 with its inwardly turned flange terminal 22, is engaged by the lower corner of webs 24-25, providing a similar bearing. Thus when the block A supports the channels it not only serves to positively connect them but holds them in evenly spaced continuous separated relationship and with a firm holding effect throughout.

The terminal 21 of. Wall 26 of adjacent mem hers. A,, is easily bent around the lower corner of each alternating" adjacent member 11, firmly clinching the several parts together in permanent relationship, in connection with the. transverse support 3].

It will be noted that by such construction, the web portions of alternating channels I'l rest upon any suitable spaced apart transverse framing supports, as angle members 3|. I

In applying the connecting elements; A the terminal 21 is bent upwardly and laterally under- 1 neath the flange 32 of the angle support 3|,

clamping its flange tightly upward and against 7 1 the corner portions I9-I'I of the lower section.

Also, that the alternate channel sections I8 are connected directly with sections H by the blocks 1 A independent of any other means connecting them with the supporting underframing.

While the vertical depth between the upper surface 23 and the lower face 24 of the spacing blocks, just backwardly of the corner connection particular shape of certain portions may be modified without impairment. Thus the lower web 24 may vary in direction, like web 25 also, so long as the web'flanges. I9 and are maintained in position by hooking the portion 29 over the upper 1 or free edge of one of the upwardly extending flanges I9 with the wall 26 extending vertically 1 along the outer surface of the flange I 9. The part 1 21 is then bent inwardly to the position illustrated in which it islparallelto the part 29 and is operative toclamp the part 29 against the inwardly extending lip 2|. 1 element will be mounted on the upwardly ex- 1 tending flange I9 and will thus be secured against 1 movement with respect to the lower channel I'I v of which the .flange I9 constitute a part. this point, it will be noted] that, in the preferred 4 j practice of the invention, as illustrated in Figure 1 2, the lower end of the vertically extending wall In this manner, the fastening 26 isinserted through notches or openings formed 1 in the upper flange 32 of. the angle member 3|,

and is then bent upwardly into clamping engageangle member 3I on which it is resting.

. It wi1l be noted that the wall 25 is angularly 5 By reason of .this angular inclination, a sloping camming The upper channels camming surfaces on the sidewalls 25. With a of. pressure thereto in a direction to move it toward the channels II, the lips 22 will be cammed outwardly to a position in which they may hook over the lower surface presented bythe walls 24. The walls 24 are so positioned that the lips 22 will move inwardlyto engage withthe lower surface of the walls 24 at .the time that the under surface of the web I8 moves into abutting engagement with the upper surface of the walls 23. The channel I8 will then occupy the position illustrated in Figure 2 with the fastening ele- 1 mentinterlocked between the web of the channel I8 and the upper surface of the lip 22. It will thusbe seen that the camming action effected by the wall portion 25 as the channel I8 is moved downwardly, as viewed in Figure 2, will be efiective to facilitate mounting of the channel I8 on the fastening element.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the i inclined with respect to the parallel walls 23 and 24 which it connects together.

fastening elements are operative to secure and space the upper and lower channel I8 and I I with respect to each other. In addition, the fastening elements are operative to secure thechannels to the angle members 3| which constitute a part of the supporting framework for the awning structure. The assembly of the awning structure is facilitated by reason of. the fact that the fastening elements of this invention are first operated to secure the lower channels in position on the supporting framework. The awning structure may then be completed by the application of the upper channels I8 by merely placing them in position and forcing them inwardly to hook the lips 22 under the walls 24 of thefastening elements.

Certain features of the fastening element of this invention are common to and covered by the copending application of Meyer Harrison and Samuel B. Korman, Serial No. 635,214, filed December 15, 1945, which matured into Patent No. 2,562,092, on July 24, 1951, to which reference is hereby made. V

WhatIclaim is: y

1. An awning roof construction comprising a lower series of spaced channels having upwardlyturned flanges, an upper series of channels positioned to extend over the adjacent flanges of two lower channels, the upper channels having downwardly-turned flanges with inwardly turned lips to overlie the channel webs, spaced fastening transversely toprovide air flow passages between said channels, each fastening element having a flat back wall mounted to engage anupwardlyextending flange of a lower channel, a notch in the element to'receive the lower channel flange and a body portion extending above said flange and outwardly from the flangeunder the web of an overlying. upper channel, said body portion being interlocked between the lip on the upper channel flange and the web of said channel.

2. The awning construction defined in claim 1 in which a notch is formed in the base of the body portion of the fastening element which receives lips formed at the tops of flanges on the lower channels to transversely space the lower channel.

3. The awning construction defined in claim 1 in which the roof channels are attached to a supporting frame in spaced relation by securing the back walls of the fastening elements in spaced receiving openings in the supporting frame.

4. The awning construction defined in claim 3 in which the back wall of the fastening element passes through an opening in'a member of the a supporting frame and is folded back against the member to lock the element in position.

5. A ventilated awning construction comprising first andsecond sets'ofpanels, each panel having an elongated body portion with longitudinal flanges defining longitudinal channels with said body portion, the flanges having lateral 7 lips overlying said body portion, fastening members detachably. securing said sets of panels togetherin spaced relation, the panels ofthe first set overlying the panels of V the second set, the adjacent edges of the body portions of overlying panels being spaced both laterally and vertically, each fastening member having its upper portion resting on and extendin above the lips of the panels of the second set and being of less length than said channels to provide air flow passages between said panels, a flat back wall of each fastening member having a lateral portion overhanging an adjacent flange and received in the channel and engaging a flange and lip of the first set to prevent lateral and vertical displacement of said panels.

6. A ventilated awning construction comprising first and second sets of panels, each panel having an elongated body portion with longitudinal flanges defining longitudinal channels with said body portion, the flanges having lateral lips overlying said body portion, fastening members detachably securing said sets of panels together in spaced relation, the panels of the first set overlying the panels of the second set, the adjacent edges of the body portions of overlying panels being spaced both laterally and vertically, each fastening member having its upper portion extending above the flanges of the panels of the second set and being of less length than said channels to provide air flow passages between said panels and having a back wall positioned against an adjacent flange of the second set of channels to space them, the adjacent fastening members having lateral upper portions overhanging adjacent flanges and received in the channel and engaging flanges and lips of the first set to provide lateral and vertical displacement of said panels, the lower surface of said lateral portions being notched to receive the lateral lips on the second set of panels.

7. An awning roof construction comprising a lower series of spaced channels having upwardly-turned flanges with inwardly-turned lips on the flanges to overlie the channel webs, an upper series of channels positioned to extend over the adjacent flanges of the two lower channels, the upper channels having downwardly turned flanges extending at substantially right angles to the webs with inwardly-turned fiat lips arranged to overlie the channel webs, fastening elements detachably securing the series of channels together with the channels in spaced relation, each fastening element having a back wall mounted to engage an upwardly-extending flange of a lower channel and a body portion at the top of the back wall having a, notch to receive the inwardly-turned lip at the top of the flange of a lower channel, said body portion extending above said flange and outwardly beyond the flange under the web of the upper channel and interlocked between the flange lip and web of the upper channel.

8. An awning roof construction comprising a lower series of spaced channels having upwardlyturned flanges with inwardly-turned lips on the flanges to overlie the channel webs, an upper series of channels positioned to extend over the adjacent flanges of lower channels, the upper channels having downwardly-turned flanges extending at substantially right angles to the webs with inwardly-turned lips arranged to overlie the channel webs, fastening elements detachably securing the series of channels together with the channels in spaced relation, each fastening element having a back wall mounted to engage an upwardly-extending flange of a lower channel and a body portion at the top of the back wall extending above and restingupon the lip of said flange and outwardly from the flange under the web of the upper channel, an inclined side wall on the body portion extending from the bottom to the top of the body, said body being interlocked between the flange lip and web of the upper channel while leaving an open space between the flange of the upper channel and the inclined side wall to provide a yieldable corner at the channel flange and web to permit the lip on the channel flange to ride across the inclined side wall for locking under the fastening element body.

HERBERT M. HELT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 20,975 Houseman Jan. 10, 1939 511,775 Holzbach Jan. 2 1894 537,569 Flatau Apr. 16, 1895, 1,770,063 Bloss et al July 8, 1930 1,959,766 Sayler May 22, 1934 2,256,941 Crawford Sept. 23, 1941 2,296,782 Fischer et al Sept. 22, 1942 2,312,489 Schaefer Mar. 2, 1943 2,356,833 Doe Aug. 29, 1944 2,358,733 Overly Sept. 19, 1944 2,408,557 Huntington Oct. 1, 1946 2,482,624 Koeman et al Sept. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 775,759 France 1934 

